Federal Trade Commission: Military consumers and romance scams

Military consumers and romance scams By Carol Kando-Pineda Counsel, FTC's Division of Consumer and Business Education For Military Consumer Month, let's talk a little about how romance scammers target people who support the troops — and sometimes servicemembers themselves. These scammers can be any age, gender, or sexual orientation and may approach you on dating sites or on social media platforms.  In 2022, nearly 70,000 people reported a romance scam to the FTC — and losses hit a staggering $1.3 billion. How can you avoid a romance scam? Read more ->  https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/07/military-consumers-and-romance-scams

Federal Trade Commission: Military consumers and romance scams

Reminder: Historical Museum offers to interview/record Veterans' military service story

In honor of Memorial Day Weekend, the Franklin Historical Museum will be open for its regular Saturday hours, May 27, 10 AM to 1 PM, and is welcoming Veterans to drop by at the museum (always free). 

Any veterans interested in sharing their stories of military service will be informally interviewed and (with their permission) recorded -- providing a chance to share their valuable recollections!  

For more information on this specific program, please email Alan Earls (alan.r.earls@gmail.com) or just drop by!

The museum is located at 80 West Central Street, is wheelchair accessible and entry is always free.

You can also visit the Historical Museum on the web at
http://franklinhistoricalmuseum.org/   

or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/FHM02038

Franklin Historical Museum, 80 West Central St 

Veterans' Council Planning Trip to American Heritage Museum in Hudson

The Franklin Veterans' Council has planned a bus (school bus) trip to the American Heritage Museum in Hudson on Saturday, October 15.The museum features one of the largest collections of WWII military vehicles in North America as well as tanks, aircraft and other military artifacts, chronologically arranged dioramas and exhibits from the Revolutionary War to today. 

There are also classic cars, trucks, farm vehicles and race cars on display

Here are the details:

American Heritage Museum Bus Trip 

Where: Hudson, MA

When: Saturday, October 15, 2022

Time: Bus (school bus) will leave the Franklin Senior Center parking lot at 8:30 AM and will return to the Senior Center by 1:45 PM

Cost: $15/per person. Must be 18 or older to attend. 

Fee includes bus, museum admission and a box lunch. Tickets for this trip are only available through the Veterans' Services Office.

Veterans' Council Planning Trip to American Heritage Museum in Hudson

Webpage for museum -> https://www.americanheritagemuseum.org/

Photo album from a trip to the museum in 2021

https://photos.app.goo.gl/oXNXxNQMUBZs7zM78

Tune into Military Consumer all year long

Tune into Military Consumer all year long By Kira Krown As Military Consumer Month comes to a close, the work doesn't end here. While servicemembers, veterans, and their families do so much for our country, scammers continue to target their hard-earned salaries and benefits year-round. Read More ->  https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2022/07/tune-military-consumer-all-year-long

https://www.militaryconsumer.gov/

Military Service and Increased Social Security Benefits

"A misleading letter, from an unknown source, is circulating online that mentions a $1,200 special Social Security earnings credit for people who served in the military. We want to make sure veterans with active and inactive service have the appropriate information that they need and do not take unnecessary action. 

Under certain circumstances, special earnings can be credited to your military pay record for Social Security purposes. Since 1957, if you have earnings for active-duty military service or active-duty training, your military service earnings have been covered under Social Security. Since 1988, inactive duty service in the armed forces reserves (such as weekend drills) is also covered by Social Security. If you served in the military before 1957 and did not pay Social Security taxes, we have added special credit to your earnings record for some of your service. These extra earnings may help you qualify for Social Security benefits or increase the amount of your benefit. 

You can read more in our Military Service and Social Security fact sheet. We take your benefits seriously because we know you depend on them. Thank you for your service!"

Via Social Security Matters:  https://blog.ssa.gov/military-service-and-increased-social-security-benefits/ 

Military Service and Increased Social Security Benefits

In the News: ‘Sons’ rise in Franklin; Gov Bakers extends support for restaurants outdoor dining

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:  

"Although he has not served in the military, Alan Earls has felt a strong connection to the armed services since he was a kid.

“When I was a child, my dad, and pretty much every adult male I knew, was a veteran of World War I, II or the Korean War,” said Earls. “Later, of course, many contemporaries went off to Vietnam.”

It was a time when, he said, “military service by males was universal and honored.” And while not everyone directly faced peril, “everyone who served played an important role, for limited benefits and modest thanks.”

As the son of a veteran, Earls felt from an early age the importance of always remembering and honoring people — both men and women — who have served, “or simply been ‘asked’ by their country to serve.” 

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200910/sons-rise-in-franklin-legion-post-75-relaunching-support-group?rssfeed=true

"Vittorio Ettore’s restaurant, Bistro 5, was “basically 100% empty” at 7:30 p.m. on a Friday when a city official happened to stop in and suggested Ettore needed a patio.

Ettore was skeptical of the idea at first, he recalled Thursday. His Italian restaurant is at a busy intersection, and with the West Medford commuter rail station nearby, overlooks steady train and bus traffic.

“There’s a lot going on in the streets, but she really got me inspired to actually do a small patio, and I have to say, since we decided that evening, within five days, I was able to do business outside, which is kind of incredible,” Ettore said. “We went from doing roughly about under 30 people per week in June and July, which is pretty crazy, to roughly 30 to 40 people a day, so that has changed our business completely.”

Gov. Charlie Baker, Medford Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn and other officials visited Bistro 5 on Thursday, where Baker announced a doubling of the Shared Streets and Spaces grant program from $5 million to $10 million."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200910/outdoor-dining-gets-boost-with-doubling-of-shared-streets-and-spaces-grant?rssfeed=true

Empowering military consumers – all year long

Empowering military consumers – all year long Joint blog by the Department of Defense (DoD), the FTC, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Now that Military Consumer Month has come to a close, it's time to think about how we can support service members all year long. Seven years ago, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) launched Military Consumer Protection Day to highlight fraud affecting service members.  Since then, the observance has grown into a national, year-round campaign. Militaryconsumer.gov provides service members and their families with resources from partner agencies like Department of Defense (DoD), the FTC and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to boost their financial readiness. Read more https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2020/08/empowering-military-consumers-all-year-long This is a free service provided by the Federal Trade Commission.

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In the News: "Mass. lawmakers push back on Trump’s military threat"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"President Donald Trump on Monday said he wouldn’t hesitate to deploy the military into American cities to forcefully quell violence, looting and vandalism if governors can’t control the protests against police brutality occurring around the country. But the threat was met with resistance in Massachusetts, where the state’s top law enforcement official described it as illegal and a “stupid thing to do.”

Attorney General Maura Healey on Tuesday said that Trump “doesn’t have the authority to say what he’s going to do.” And based on conversations with Massachusetts police, she’s also worried that greater militarization will lead to more tension.

“We need to push for deescalation and a calming and restore a semblance of order,” Healey said in a virtual appearance before the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. “We don’t need soldiers in our streets.”

Healey’s comments came the morning after U.S. Sen. Edward Markey described Trump’s Rose Garden remarks as “un-American,” and U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy said a military response to the anger being displayed on the streets would not work."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200602/mass-lawmakers-push-back-on-trumps-military-threat

IRS Free File offers free tax prep options for military personnel

The Internal Revenue Service today reminded active duty military personnel that IRS Free File offers them multiple options for free federal tax preparation.

Free File is for individuals or families whose adjusted gross income was $69,000 or less last year. Free File is a private-public partnership between the IRS and the Free File Inc.

"The IRS takes special steps to help military members and their families with their taxes, and the Free File program is part of that effort," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "Almost 10% of the IRS workforce are veterans. We greatly appreciate the service to the nation of every veteran and their supportive families, and we will do all we can to assist them."

For active duty military and their spouses, Free File has a special offer. Individuals and their families who meet the income limitation may choose from any of nine companies without regard to additional eligibility requirements.

The nine special offers are from 1040Now, Inc., FileYourTaxes.com, Free tax Returns.com, H&R Block, On-Line Taxes, Inc., Tax ACT, TaxHawk, Inc., TaxSlayer (English and Spanish) and TurboTax.

Active duty military stationed in combat zones also have more time to file their tax returns. However, those with spouses and families may opt to file as soon as they are able to claim various tax benefits for which they may be eligible. If only one spouse is present to file a joint return, they must have proper authorization to file a joint tax return on behalf of their spouse.

The IRS will begin processing tax returns on Jan. 27. With Free File, you can use any digital device, personal computer, tablet or smart phone. Free File products are mobile enabled so you can do your taxes on your smart phone or tablet and e-File with your hand-held device.

Here's how Free File works:

1. Go to IRS.gov/FreeFile to see all Free File options.
2. Military personnel who meet the income requirement can select from any of the nine providers that have "Free for Active Military for Adjusted Gross Income of $69,000 or less" in their offer. Nine of the 10 partners are making the offer. One product is in Spanish.
3. Select a provider and follow the links to their web page to begin your tax return.
4. Complete and e-File your tax return only if you have all the income and deduction records you need. The fastest way to get a refund is by filing electronically and selecting direct deposit. If you owe, use direct pay or electronic options.

Generally, each Free File partner sets additional eligibility requirements that civilian taxpayers must meet. Non-military personnel should use the "look up" tool at IRS.gov/FreeFile to find the best match.

Military members can get more information on their special tax benefits at IRS.gov/military.

Free File is available now through October to accommodate extension filers.

IRS Free File offers free tax prep options for military personnel

"The sisters' achievement is a remarkable milestone for women in the military"

Via Franklin resident Rus Lodi's Facebook post about his sisters:

"Their brother Rus Lodi calls them “leadership junkies.”

If you’re a soldier, you’d better just call them ma’am and salute.

Maj. Gen. Maria Barrett and younger sister Brig. Gen. Paula Lodi are each accomplished in their own fields. But together they have become the first two sisters, the Army believes, to attain the general’s rank in the service's 244-year history.

"Maj. Gen. Maria Barrett and Brig. Gen. Paula Lodi represent the best America has to offer," said Acting Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy. "However, this comes as no surprise to those who have known them and loved them throughout this extraordinary journey. This is a proud moment for their families and for the Army."

Continue reading about the Lodi sisters online
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/09/05/army-first-two-sisters-become-generals/2094498001/

Maj. Gen. Maria Barrett and her sister, Brig. Gen. Paula Lodi pose for a family photo after, then Col. Lodi's outgoing Change of Command for the 44th Medical Brigade, Fort Bragg, N.C. in July 2018. (Photo: None, army.mil)

Military Hiring Event in Boston - May 14

At the Boston Hiring Expo, join the Boston Red Sox and Hiring Our Heroes to connect directly with recruiters and hiring managers from local and national companies of all sizes.

This event is free and is open to active duty service members, Guard and Reserve, veterans, and military spouses. Even better? All registered veteran and military spouse job seekers who attend the hiring expo are eligible to receive up to two free tickets to attend the evening's game between the Boston Red Sox and the Colorado Rockies.

More info and to register
https://events.hiringourheroes.org/events/boston-hiring-expo/event-summary-6c38865e57c048c9a9c8b2916a43fc38.aspx

PDF Flyer
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kU1P7e46LAf7h8PxVQIuuU3ERBV1TQPb/view?usp=sharing

Military Hiring Event in Boston - May 14

11th Annual 9/11 Tribute Dinner

All present and past military service members and families are invited to a special tribute dinner to honor the heroes and victims of 9/11/01. This non-political free dinner is our gift to you.

When: Monday, September 11, 2017
Time: 6:00pm to 8:15pm
Where: DoubleTree by Hilton 11 Beaver Street Milford, MA
Reservations Required by August 31, 2017 at www.thankstoyanks.org

11th Annual 9/11 Tribute Dinner

Military Uniforms on display

To honor those who have served in the military, a display of military uniforms is the feature this month at the Franklin Historical Museum.

Pictures of Franklin men and women in uniform are on display

Is there someone you know or remember pictured? Stop by to look.

Where is the Historical Museum? 80 West Central St


View Larger Map

You can visit their webpage  http://www.franklinhistoricalmuseum.com/

or follow them on Facebook   http://www.facebook.com/FHM02038

In the News - middle school football, military supply

Franklin Middle school makes play for football

from Wicked Local Franklin News RSS by Ashley Studley/Daily News staff

McGovern impressed with Franklin military supply company

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Ashley Studley/Daily News staff

Franklin, MA

Marry Christmas

1 - This Christmas enjoy the holiday trains from South Station:



2 - follow this link to a great Christmas story (be patient for the first commercial, the story is worth waiting for)

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4003490&affil=wpvi

3 - and to recognize our countrymen and women serving in the military:



Merry Christmas to one and all!


PS - thanks to Joan at Songs of Experience for the link to ABC News